Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
A cozy one-pan meatball casserole baked with penne pasta and marinara sauce, perfect for a stress-free dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Omnivore
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (12 oz) box uncooked penne pasta
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 3 cups water (or beef broth for more flavor)
- 1 (1 lb) bag frozen meatballs (about 24 meatballs)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Combine the uncooked penne pasta, marinara sauce, and water (or beef broth) in a large baking dish.
- Add the frozen meatballs on top of the pasta mixture.
- Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Mix gently to combine all ingredients.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.
- Add the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese on top, then return to the oven, uncovered, for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
Feel free to swap the penne pasta for other short pasta types like rotini or gluten-free options. Adjust seasonings to your taste!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: meatball casserole, dump and bake, easy dinner, comfort food, weeknight meal